Elastic milk-bottle fastener.



No. 656,894. Patented Aug. 28, I900.

' J. B. KIMBER.

ELASTIC MILK BOTTL E FASTENER.

(Application filed Feb. 26, 1900.

(No Model.)

ra'rns JOHN BROWN KIMBER, OF MIDDLETOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOIR TO. ANNIE M. KIMBER, OF SAME PLACE, AND CHARLES H. O. BEAKES,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELASTIC MILK-BOTTLE FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,894, dated August 28, 1900.

- Applicationfiled February 26, 1900. Serial No. 6,446. (No model.) v

I?) all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, J OHN BROWN KIMBER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Middletown, Orange county, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and use- .ful Improvement in Elastic Milk-Bottle Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

A much approved fastener has been long in use having a collar of wire encircling the neck of the bottle,a lever of wirehavinga suit able form to engage with such collar and also with the bail, and a bail reaching over the.

mouth of the bottle and properly formed to engage with the cover and to hold it down firmly or release it, according as the lever is turned downward or upward. My improved fastener is based on such construction, but provides for a great amount of elasticity therein. Previously-known constructions have elasticity at certain points in the lever, but not so located as to provide a relief when the contents of the bottle swell by freezing. My construction provides such relief. It maintains a sufficiently-firm pressure on the cover to exclude air and preserve the milk properly sealed under the ordinary conditions, and when the milk freezes the fastener yields upward and affords sufficient relief by its elastic yielding at the required points. The invention is simple. There are only the same number of parts as in the ordinary construction. I provide the elasticity by making the lever and also the hail of such strength and length and coiled so that the cover is held down both forcibly and yieldingly. It can rise the small fraction of an inch when required to relieve the expansion due to freezing without materially increasing the pressure.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fastener in use. The succeeding figures show the parts detached. Fig. 2 isa perspective View of my bail, and Fig. 3 is a corresponding view of my lover.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures where they appear.

A is the upper portion of a milk-bottle,and A the ordinary enlargement or flange around the mouth.

B is'an ordinary collar, and B B are the ordinary curls, adapted to serve as bearings for the bail.

D is my lever, made of wire stouter and longer than that usually employed for the on dinary lever. The several portions are distinguished by supernumerals.

O is an ordinary cover.

D represents bearings formed by squarelyturned ends of the wire, and D D are curls adapted to perform the usual functions of bearings for the bail. D is the portion of the lever through which the force is applied by the operator to turn the cover downward to tighten the fastener and upward to relax it. All these parts are in the ordinary forms.

Between the bearing D and the adjacent curl D on each side an extra length of wire is employed and formed into a volute curve D The effect is that when the lever is depressed the bail is drawn downward with about the usual force, but it is by reason of the elasticity of the volute portions of the lever capable of yielding upward alittle without greatly increasing the tension.

E is my bail, certain portions being distinguished by supernumerals. A portion simply extends across the top of the cover, being retained in a notch or bearing therein in any usual or suitable manner.

E E are bearings formed by inwardlyturned ends of the wire. They are engaged in the curls D of the bail. More than the usual length of wire is employed,and the portion E is formed in a volute curve. This gives the elastic property also to the bail. The wire is sufficiently stouter to give the required strength and pressure in holding the cover C upon the bottle, notwithstanding the yielding property due to its curved portion E. The pressure on the cover nnder the ordinary conditions shjuld be about the same as is attained by the ordinary bail and ordinary lever; but the diiference in the effect due to my invention is that when the frost forces up the milk the cover can rise and allow it to escape Without feeling much increased resistance.

The volute curve in the bail is wound in one direction and the corresponding curve in the lever is Wound in the opposite direction. This arrangement insures little liabilty of the parts to foul.

The operation in applying and releasing is substantially the same as with the ordinary fastener.

Modifications may be made Without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. Other forms of material than round Wires may be used.

Parts of the invention may be used without the whole. I can introduce the elastic quality due to my curved portion 13 or that ceptacle, the lever,'D, having the volutecurves, D, interposed between the fulcrum and the bearing, D, for the bail, in combination with the bail E, having the volute curves E interposed between the top, E, and the pivots, E the curves, D and E being in opposite directions so that the wires cross each other and avoid engagement, substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN BROWN KIMBER.

Witnesses:

THOMAS DREW STE'rsoN, E. E. SoULT. 

